Most people already understand that drinking an excessive amount of alcohol is bad for their health. However, some may not realize that certain alcoholic beverage can be hazardous to your mouth, teeth, and gums, too.

Beer is considered the most popular alcoholic drink in the United States. If you are part of this group of beer drinkers, understanding how this beverage affects your oral health is smart. This guide will educate you on the dental dangers of drinking beer.

Dry Mouth

One of the most surprising ways beer can affect your mouth, teeth, and gums is by causing dry mouth.

Alcohol may be a liquid, but it contains high levels of acidic properties that decrease any saliva in the mouth. If alcoholic spirits are combined with other ingredients, such as fruits and fruit juices, to create a special drink, the acidic properties will be even higher.

Saliva is essential for ridding the mouth of food residue and bacteria. Without it, this debris and bacteria lingers, increasing the risk of eroded enamel, tooth decay, and gum disease.

If you still prefer to drink this favorite beverage, make sure to drink water in between each glass, bottle, or can of beer. This will ensure your mouth stays moist, reducing any possibility of dry mouth.

Tooth Sensitivity

If you consume an excessive amount of beer, you may notice that the enamel on your teeth has begun to wear down. This layer of enamel creates a strong layer on your tooth's surface, protecting the interior and roots of your teeth.

Without a protective layer of enamel, the interior pulp and roots will be exposed to numerous elements, including food particles, liquids, air, and bacteria. This exposure can lead to tooth sensitivity. A slight or more involved pain may be noticeable if you eat or drink hold or cold foods and beverages. This is the most common symptom of tooth sensitivity. If you have tooth sensitivity, you may experience other issues as well. For instance, brushing and flossing your teeth and gum tissue can be painful at times.

Your dentist may recommend a few solutions to ease the discomfort associated with tooth sensitivity. Restoring some of the enamel may be possible with special toothpastes and fluoride treatments. Veneers are also options to consider, since they are basically realistic-looking and durable covers that are fitted to the surface of your teeth.

It is important to note that if you do plan to restore your enamel, reducing your intake of beer and other alcoholic beverage will be recommended.

Tooth Staining

A light yellowing or brownish stain on your teeth is also common if you drink a lot of beer. These stains may not affect the actual underlying health of your smile, but they can affect your appearance. Tooth staining also affects you desire to smile and level of self-esteem, which can affect your life negatively in many ways. Understanding how beer stains your teeth is helpful. Firstly, it is important to know that there are different levels of tooth stains.

Extrinsic stains affect the actual surface of the tooth. If you have stains that affect your enamel only, they are extrinsic. Certain types of beer are more likely to cause these types of stains than others. For example, beers made with darker barley will more than likely stain your teeth, especially if you consume them regularly.

Intrinsic stains are a bit more involved, since they affect the underlying pulp of the teeth. If you have lost enamel due to drinking alcohol or other dental issues, you will develop these deeper stains.

Removing extrinsic stains is easier because only the surface of the teeth will require treatment. In many cases, a thorough cleaning and whitening treatment are sufficient. To remove intrinsic stains, bleaching treatments, dental bonding, or veneers may be your best solution for restoring your smile to a whiter and brighter state. Contact a cosmetic dentistry office like Parklane Dental to learn about your options for removing stains.

If you want to continue drinking beer, you will need to grin and bear the possible dental dangerous of this alcoholic beverage. To learn more, consider visiting your dentist for a consultation and exam.